FORMER DARE OFFICER BUSTED FOR MARIJUANA

Ex-Deputy Faces Felony Pot Charges

GRAYLING -- A former Crawford County Sheriff's deputy who served as a
school DARE officer faces felony marijuana charges.

William John Bonkowski III, 45, was arrested Thursday as part of a
series of 11 drug-related arrests around the county. The Grayling
Township resident worked for the sheriff's department for more than a
decade and for a time taught the school-based Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program, officials said.

At least one law enforcement official said the arrest of a former
colleague is disappointing and angering.

"It (ticked) me off. I take this personally. It's an insult to my
profession," said Sheriff Kirk Wakefield. "Not to mention he used to
work for me."

Bonkowski worked as a Crawford County deputy between September 1996
and December 2006, first as a marine patrol officer and then as a
full-time deputy, Wakefield said.

He also worked as a school liaison officer with the Crawford-Au Sable
School District during his time as a deputy. He was assigned to the
primary and elementary schools in Grayling from 2001 to 2004, said Joe
Powers, district superintendent.

That included running the schools' DARE program, he
said.

Wakefield declined to comment about Bonkowski and the DARE
program.

Bonkowski faces a felony charge for allegedly possessing and trying to
deliver marijuana in Crawford County. He could face up to four years
in prison and a $20,000 fine, if convicted.

He posted a $5,000 bond and is set to appear for arraignment on March
19 in 87th District Court in Grayling. The court does not have an
attorney on file for Bonkowski, who has not yet appeared before a judge.

The arrest warrant was authorized by David Sabin, Crawford County's
assistant prosecuting attorney, who could not be reached for comment.